About Dan Donavin Expertise I can answer questions regarding planning, repairing, hiring contractors, and building decks, stairs, landings, and most residential outdoor woodwork. I know the building codes for my surrounding counties but I cannot answer specific question on passing inspections unless it is something nationwide.
Experience I have 10 years of carpentry experience and the last five years owning my own company. I currently build, repair and replace stairs and decking for new construction, remodeling, and commercial customers. I am often called on to bring stairs and decks up to code in new construction sites. I have used most new types of decking, railing, post, and fencing materials that are on the market.
Organizations Habit for Humanity
Concrete Network
Education/Credentials College of Dupage two years business and sales coursework
Expert: Dan Donavin Date: 7/20/2008 Subject: surprise under deck
Question When we were painting our house, we noticed some rotted wood around the
door trim. We took a deck board off and underneath found a concrete
landing that was there before the deck, and the deck had been installed right
over it. Problem is, when it rains, water flows through the deck slats and then
gets trapped between the concrete platform and the house. We removed as
much of the rotted sheathing and trim as best as we could, and replaced the
sheathing with a plywood patch, and replaced the trim. There was some
deeper rotting, too, (possibly in structural bits) but we couldn't get to it. It
doesn't seem to be going all the way through to the basement.
We caulked as best we could, but it seems like some water passing through
the deck will still be trapped at the house.
My question is, how should this have been done (the original construction
and our patch)? There are pieces of treated lumber sitting on top of the
concrete landing to support some of the decking just outside the doorway,
the rest has joists. I slipped some plastic in by our patches, but I couldn't see
a way to make sure that water doesn't get under there, especially through the
crack between the first deck board and the threshold. Should I add some
sticky rubber patch? Cement? How should the original contractors have done
this? This deck was put on at least 10 years ago, by previous owners.
Answer Hi Tanya,
There probably needs to be some type of flashing put in before the deck. A piece of copper or galvanized metal bent at a 90 degree angle or shingles or a piece of rubber flashing put under the siding and under the first decking boards to divert water away from the house. You can use a concrete water proofer or a rubber patch my work. I may need to see a couple of pictures to get an idea of where the water is actually coming in.
Good Luck
Dan Donavin
Gorgeous Stone Stucco Tile Corp.
gorgeousbuilders@yahoo.com
